Pocketed album page

ABSTRACT

A pocketed album page and process of making the same comprises the steps of the die-cutting a sheet of album page material to form slots in the sheet. The sheet is cut into page size blanks and folded transparent pocket forming member is applied through each slot in the page blank, and against the lower transverse edge of the blank. Attachment strips are secured to opposite longitudinal edges of each blank and to the edge portions of the pocket forming members. One of the attachment members has hinge elements attached thereto to permit binding of each page to album covers. Each album page has upwardly opening transparent pockets one each side of accommodating photographs and the like therein.

[ 51 May 29, 1973 United States Patent [191 Wenstrom Roger A wenstrom St Primary Examiner--R0ber t W. Michell Mi Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff POCKETED ALBUM PAGE Cloud,

[75] Inventor:

Attorney-George F. Williamson, Herman H. Bains, Malcolm L. Moore and Conrad A. Hansen [73] Assignee:

ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1972 A pocketed album page and process of making the same comprises the steps of the die-cutting a sheet of album page material to form slots in the sheet. The

90 9 50 5 1 1 v 3 2 M 4 fi 2 m4 4 M "02 OM11 4 W 4 8 m m4 4 n "0 0 m m H m M 0 a A "a mmh" "c .r Na m& L m C WM .t C Umm ll] 2 8 555 [.III.

[21] Appl. No.: 241,514

sheet is cut into page size blanks and folded transparent pocket forming member is applied through each slot in the page blank, and against the lower transverse edge of the blank. Attachment strips are 5 secured to opposite longitudinal edges of each blank and to the edge portions of the pocket forming members. One of the attachment members has hinge elements attached thereto to permit binding of each page References Cited UNITED STATES' PATENTS l,l [9,768 12/1914 Thomas....,............ 40/104,05 X 2,005,453 6/1935 Chadwick, Jr... .....40/124 x v to album covers- Each album P has p y p 2,805,502 9/1957 Smith et al....... ....40/ 124 X ing transparent pockets one each side of accommodat- 3,292, 12/1966 p ing photographs and the like therein. 3,643,360 2/1972 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 2 91973 SHEET 1 BF 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Although pocketed album pages are presently available, it is often difficult to properly position a photograph or other items in the pocket of these pages or to remove a photograph therefrom. Typically, a sleeve or panel of transparent plastic is mounted on the page and receives the photographs therein. The photographs or items are inserted through one end of the sleeve that forms the pocket and this presents a problem in the removal and replacement of photographs or other items with respect to the pockets.

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide a novel pocketed album page having a plurality of upwardly opening pockets on both sides thereof which permit photographs and the like to be easily and accurately positioned in the pocket and to be readily removed therefrom.

The pocketed album page is produced in a continuous operation and is die cut with transverse slots for accommodating folded transparent pocket forming members. Attachment strips, one of which has hinge elements secured thereto, are secured by opposite longitudinal edges of the page to secure the pocket forming members in place. The attachment strip to which the hinge elements are mounted, not only is positively secured to the marginal edge portion of the album page, but this attachment strip also is positively secured to an edge portion of the pocket forming members.

Thus the manner in which the attachment strips are secured to the album page not only effectively secures edge portions of the pocket forming members to the strips but the attachment strips are also positively secured to the marginal edge portions of the page. This particular arrangement minimizes, if not precludes, the attachment strip from becoming disconnected from the album page. These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus used to carry out the novel process;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a novel album page, with certain parts removed from their normal attached relationship to indicate the relationship of normally concealed parts;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 3- 3 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately along line 4-4 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the novel album page.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 2, it will be seen that one embodiment of the novel album page, designated generally by the reference numeral is there shown. The album page 10 is formed of a suitable paper material, being sufficiently rigid so as to maintain its dimensional stability. The

album page is of rectangular configuration and includes an inner longitudinal edge 1 1, an outer longitudinal edge 12, an upper transverse edge 13 and a lower transverse edge 14.

The album page has a plurality of elongate substantially straight transversely extending slots therein, two such slots being shown in the embodiment illustrated. The slots 15 'are disposed in parallel relation with each other and with the upper and lower transverse edges. These slots also divide the pages into three equal sections. It will be appreciated that rather than the pair of slots illustrated, a single or several slots could be used. It will be noted that the slots extend through the major width or transverse portion of the album page and each has one end thereof disposed closely adjacent but spaced from one of the longitudinal edges of the page. Each slot also defines an upper straight transverse edge 16, as best seen in FIG. 2.

The album page 10 has a plurality of pocket forming members 17 applied thereto which cooperate with the page to form the various pockets. In this respect, each of the pocket forming members 17 is formed of a rectangular sheet of transparent material such as acetate or the like, which is folded along its transverse center line to define a substantially straight fold line 18. When the pocket forming sheet of material is folded, each pocket forming member is then provided with front and rear panels 19. It will be seen that a pocket forming member 17 is inserted through a slot 15 and that one pocket forming member is positioned against the lower transverse edge 14 of the page.

Each pocket forming member which extends through one of the slots 15 has its fold line 18 positioned against the upper transverse edge 16 defined by the associated slot. The front and rear panels of each pocket forming member are positioned adjacent opposite surfaces of the album page, each panel having vertical edges 20 positioned adjacent but spaced from the longitudinal edges of the page. It will also be noted that each panel of each pocket forming member has an elongate substantially straight upper transverse edge 21. It will further be noted that the transverse edges of the panels of the uppermost pocket forming member are positioned in spaced relation with respect to the upper edge of the page, while the transverse edges of the panels of the other pocket forming members are spaced below the adjacent transverse slots 15.

The album page 10 also includes an elongate inner attachment strip 23 and an elongate outer attachment strip 24, each being formed of a flexible material such as paper or plastic and each having an adhesive surface. The attachment strips are formed from an elongate strip of material and are folded along their respective longitudinal center lines to define opposed flaps 26 which extend from the fold line 25. The adhesive surface of each attachment strip is the concave surface of the folded strip and is folded over and applied to the longitudinal edge portions of the album page and to the vertical edge portions of the panels of the pocket forming members.

The inner attachment strip 23 is provided with a pair of U-shaped hinge elements 27 which are formed from wire. The hinge elements 27 each includes a bight portion 28 having legs 29 which terminate in outturned ends 30. It will be noted that the outturned ends 30 are positioned against the inner longitudinal edge 11 of the album page and are clamped thereagainst by the inner attachment strip 23. These hinge elements accommodate flexible binding straps which secure the album pages to front and rear album covers.

It will be noted that when the pocket forming members 17 are applied to the album page, the vertical edges 20 of each of the panels thereof, are spaced from the longitudinal edges of the page. This marginal spacing between the vertical edges of the panels of the pocket forming members and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the album page has been designated by the reference numeral 31. The width dimension of this transverse spacing between the vertical edge of the panel and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the page corresponds to approximately one-half the width dimension of a flap 26 of an attachment strip. With this arrangement, the flaps of each attachment strip not only are secured very effectively to the vertical edge portions of the panels of the pocket forming members, but each flap is also effectively secured to the longitudinal marginal portions of one surface of the album page.

In the process of making a novel album page, an elongate sheet of album page material 40 is moved in a predetermined path of travel and is unwound from a roll 41 of the material. The material is moved along a support 42 and a slot forming die or medium engages the elongate sheet at predetermined intervals to form the slots therein. It will be noted that the slots 15 are oriented longitudinally in the direction of travel of the sheet of material. The slotted sheet is then continued in its path of travel and is engaged by a vertically reciprocating cutting blade or medium 44 which cuts the strip at predetermined intervals into album page blanks 45, which correspond to the size of the completed page. It will be noted that the blade 44 cuts the strip along its width dimension.

An elongate strip 46 of pocket forming material is unwound from a roll 47 of the material and is moved in a predetermined path of travel. This moving strip of pocket forming material, preferably transparent acetate, is engaged by a folding medium 48 which may include a wedge-shaped plow 49 and upper and lower folding members 50 to fold the strip along its longitudinal center line. The folded strip of pocket forming material is continued in its path of travel and is engaged by a cutting medium 51 which cooperates with a support 52 to cut the pocket forming material into the correct size that constitutes the pocket forming member 17.

Thereafter, the pocket forming members 17 are applied to the slots in each page, and the lower transverse edge of the page and these partially assembled pages are continued in their path of travel.

A strip 53 of attachment material is unwound from a roll 54 and is moved in a predetermined path of travel. Similarly, a strip 55 of attachment material is also unwound from the roll (not shown) and is moved through a predetermined path of travel. The strip 53 in its path of travel is engaged by a hinge applying medium comprised of a staple machine 56 which applies the hinge elements 27 to the strip 53. The strip 53 in its path of travel is also engaged by an adhesive applying medium 57 which applies an adhesive material to one surface of the strip. It is also pointed out that the attachment material may also have an adhesive material applied thereto at the time the material is manufactured. It is further pointed out that the strip 55 also has an adhesive material applied to its inner surface, although not shown in the drawing.

Strip 53 and strip 55 are engaged by a folding medium 58, each comprising a plow 59 and folding members 60 which serve to fold the strips along their respective longitudinal center lines as the strips are moved in their respective paths of travel. The strips are then engaged by a cutting medium or blade 61 which cooperates with a support 62 to cut the strips 53 and 55 at predetermined intervals into the correct size. Thus the cut strip 53 becomes the inner attachment strip 23 and the cut strip 55 becomes the attachment strip 24. The attachment strips are moved into engaging relation with the partially assembled album pages so that the respective fold lines of the adhesive coated surfaces engage the inner and outer longitudinal edges of the page. Suitable press members then press the flaps of the attachment strips against opposite surfaces of the page and against marginal vertical portions of the pocket forming members 17. The completely assembled album pages 10 are then collected on a suitable collection support 64.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that a different embodiment of the album page, designated generally by the reference numeral is here shown. This album page is also preferably formed of a suitable paper material and is of generally rectangular configuration and includes an upper longitudinal edge 81, an outer longitudinal edge 82 an upper transverse edge 83 and a lower transverse edge 84. The lower transverse edge 84 is die-cut or recessed to define off-set shoulders 84b adjacent opposites ends thereof, the end portions extending beyond the lower edge and thereby defining projection 84a.

The page 80 also has a plurality of elongate substantial straight transversely extending slots 85 therein, two such slots being shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5. The slots 85 are also disposed in a parallel relation with each other and also in parallel relation with respect to the upper and lower transverse edges of the page. These two slots divide the page into three equal sections in the manner of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4. The upper edge of each slot is defined by a substantially straight line 86.

The album page 80 also has a plurality of pocket forming members 87 applied thereto which cooperate with the page to define the various pockets. The pocket forming members 87 are also formed preferably of a transparent acetate sheet which is folded along its transverse center line that is defined by the substantially straight fold line 88. When these pocket forming members are folded and applied through the slots in the sheets, each pocket forming member then defines front and rear panels 89.

Although each pocket forming member 87 is also formed of substantially rectangular sheet, each member has a corner portion 87a which projects outwardly beyond the adjacent longitudinal edge thereof. In other words, when the pocket forming members are folded and applied through the slots, each panel has an outwardly projecting portion 87a located adjacent its upper corners. This outwardly projecting portion 870, as shown, has a length (vertical) dimension which constitutes only a minor portion of the overall length of the vertical edge 90 of each panel.

The album page 80 also includes an elongate inner attachment strip 93 and outer attachment strip 94,

each being formed of a flexible paper plastic material and each having an adhesive surface. The attachment strips are folded along their respective longitudinal center lines to define opposed flaps 96 which extend from the fold line 95. The adhesive surface of the attachment strips is applied to and folded over longitudinal edges of the album page and upon the vertical edge off-set portions 87a of the panels 89.

The inner attachment strip 93 is provided with a pair of U-shaped hinge elements 97 which are formed from wire in the manner of the previously described embodiments. However, each hinge element 97 includes a bight portion 98 having legs 99 which terminate in inturned ends 100 which are positioned against the inner longitudinal edge 81 of the album page and are clamped thereagainst by the inner attachment strip 93. The hinge elements also accommodate the flexible binding straps which secure the album page to the front and rear covers of the album. It is pointed out that the embodiment of FIG. 5 could also utilize U-shaped hinge elements whose ends are projected outwardly in the manner of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4, and conversely, the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 could utilize'hinge elements whose ends project inwardly toward each other in the manner of the embodiment of FIG. 5.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the flaps of each attachment strip are clamped to only the off-set portion 87a of each panel 89. With this arrangement, the flaps of each attachment strip are very firmly secured to the page while also being secured to only a small portion of each pocket forming member. However, it should be pointed out that it is the upper portion of each pocket forming member which receives the most stress during opening and insertion of photographs and the like into each pocket. Thus the panels of the pocket forming members are reinforced at the points where the most stress is developed. It is also pointed out that as each photograph orsimilar material is urged downwardly into each pocket, it is urged into a wedge-like recess which is defined by the lower portion of each pocket. This wedge like recess of each pocket is actually defined by the cooperative relation of each pocket forming member with its associated page.

One of the important features of the novel album is the fact that the pockets open upwardly which permits ready access to the interior of each pocket along its entire length. Each pocket forming member is positioned firmly in the case of a lower pocket forming member, against the lower transverse edge of the page. The pocket forming members are thus secured against any movement when the inner and outer attachment strips are applied to the album page. In this regard, the marginal portions of the page located between the edge of the page and the adjacent vertical edges of the pocket forming members permits the attachment strips to be firmly secured to the page and to the pocket forming members. With this arrangement, when a panel of a pocket forming member is urged away from its adjacent surface of the page (when a photograph is inserted or removed from a pocket), the pocket forming member will not pull the attachment strip from its adhered relation with respect to the marginal portions of the page.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel album page which is provided with a plurality of pockets for receiving photographs and the like, the front panel of each pocket being transparent, therefore permitting viewing of the material within the pocket while protecting the material.

It will further be seen that the upwardly opening pocket facilitates removal and replacement of the materials with respect to the pockets. This novel page is especially useful as pages for photograph albums, scrapbooks, and the like.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a novel pocketed album page, which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction, but one which functions in a more efficient manner than any heretofore known comparable type page.

What is claimed is:

1. An album page comprising a rectangular sheet of relatively stiff paper material and having upper and lower transverse edges and inner and outer longitudinal edges, said sheet having a plurality of vertically spaced apart similar elongate substantially straight transverse slots therein, each slot having one end terminating adjacent the inner longitudinal edge and the other end terminating adjacent the outer longitudinal edge,

a plurality of similar rectangular transparent pocket forming members each being folded along its transverse center line, one of said pocket forming members having its fold line positioned against the bottom transverse edge of the sheet, and each of the other pocket forming members extending through one of said slots to position the fold line for each of said other pocket forming members within a slot, each pocket forming member presenting a pair of pocket forming panels positioned on opposite sides of the sheet and having vertical edges positioned adjacent but spaced from the inner and outer longitudinal edges of the sheet,

means securing spaced apart hinge elements against the inner longitudinal edge of the sheet,

a pair of similar elongate attachment strips each being of a length corresponding to the length of the sheet and each having an adhesive surface, each of said strips being folded along its longitudinal center line to define opposed flaps, one of said folded attachment strips being applied to the inner longitudinal edge portion of the sheet and the other of said attachment strips being applied to the outer longitudinal edge portion of the sheet, the flaps of each attachment strip being applied to and adhering to the vertical edge portion of each pocket forming member and also being applied to the longitudinal edge portion of the sheet located between the vertical edges of the pocket forming members and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the sheet.

2. The album page as defined in claim 1 wherein the transverse distance of the space between the vertical edge of each pocket forming panel and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the sheet corresponds to at least one-half the width dimension of the flap of each attachment strip.

3. The album page as defined in claim 1 wherein the fold line of each of said pocket forming members is positioned against the upper transverse edge defining the associated transverse slot in the sheet.

il #0 I t 

1. An album page comprising a rectangular sheet of relatively stiff paper material and having upper and lower transverse edges and inner and outer longitudinal edges, said sheet having a plurality of vertically spaced apart similar elongate substantially straight transverse slots therein, each slot having one end terminating adjacent the inner longitudinal edge and the other end terminating adjacent the outer longitudinal edge, a plurality of similar rectangular transparent pocket forming members each being folded along its transverse center line, one of said pocket forming members having its fold line positioned against the bottom transverse edge of the sheet, and each of the other pocket forming members extending through one of said slots to position the fold line for each of said other pocket forming members within a slot, each pocket forming member presenting a pair of pocket forming panels positioned on opposite sides of the sheet and having vertical edges positioned adjacent but spaced from the inner and outer longitudinal edges of the sheet, means securing spaced apart hinge elements against the inner longitudinal edge of the sheet, a pair of similar elongate attachment strips each being of a length corresponding to the length of the sheet and each having an adhesive surface, each of said strips being folded along its longitudinal center line to define opposed flaps, one of said folded attachment strips being applied to the inner longitudinal edge portion of the sheet and the other of said attachment strips being applied to the outer longitudinal edge portion of the sheet, the flaps of each attachment strip being applied to and adhering to the vertical edge portion of each pocket forming member and also being applied to the longitudinal edge portion of the sheet located between the vertical edges of the pocket forming members and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the sheet.
 2. The album page as defined in claim 1 wherein the transverse distance of the space between the vertical edge of each pocket forming panel and the adjacent longitudinal edge of the sheet corresponds to at least one-half the width dimension of the flap of each attachment strip.
 3. The album page as defined in claim 1 wherein the fold line of each of said pocket forming members is positioned against the upper transverse edge defining the associated transverse slot in the sheet. 